17th over: Sri Lanka 84-3 (Chandimal 3, Mathews 0) target 325 A change of ends for Plunkett, who replaces the slightly wayward Jordan and strikes with his third ball, removing the set batsman just two short of his 50. Gunathilaka consults Chandimal about whether or not to ask for a review, but is quickly reminded Sri Lanka have no reviews left (and nor do England). Chandimal and Mathews, the Lenny and Carl of Sri Lankan cricket so reliable are they, come together. They’ve put on 50 partnerships in each of the last four ODIs.

Wicket! Gunathilaka lbw b Plunkett 48

From round the wicket, Plunkett fires one past Gunathilaka’s attempted leg-side heave and into the pads. Hit in front of middle and, despite the angle and the batsman being a fair way forward, Michael Gough gives it. That’s drinks, too.

16th over: Sri Lanka 82-2 (Chandimal 2, Gunathilaka 48) target 325 Time spin from Rashid. He saves a single by stepping back halfway into the path of Gunathilaka, meaning the batsmen didn’t have time to turn for a second. Despite what some idiot conspiracy theorist will no doubt tweet me, it was entirely accidental. He drops short and Gunathilaka pulls him through midwicket for four. He then hits the left-hander on the pad and, when the appeal is turned down Morgan reviews. It’s a rubbish decision frankly as that’s turning a good way past leg.

15th over: Sri Lanka 74-2 (Chandimal 1, Gunathilaka 41) target 325 Gunathilaka has looked very stylish in his brief cameos during this series: you imagine that if he’s going to help Sri Lanka to a win here then it’ll be more Thrillho than Millhouse. He gets two with a nice little dab behind point and two more with a push to mid-on. Very quietly, Sri Lanka have pinched eight from that boundary-free over, which is just what they need.

Mendis’s run out was the seventh of the ODI series for Sri Lanka, which is frankly unforgiveable.

14th over: Sri Lanka 66-2 (Chandimal 0, Gunathilaka 35) target 325 You might notice the score didn’t change between the last two overs. If you refresh the page I have corrected the 12th. Yet another run out in the series sees the in-form Mendis depart and the similarly good looking Chandimal enter. Beofre that, three runs had come from the over in singles; nowt come after it.

Wicket! Mendis run-out 22

Oh look, another run out effected by Bairstow. Mendis clumps it out to the Yorkshireman in the deep and looks for a suicidal single. The throw is dead on target, Buttler takes in front of the stumps and breaks them cleanly.

Kusal Mendis is run out by Jonny Bairstow. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

13th over: Sri Lanka 63-1 (Mendis 20, Gunathilaka 34) target 325 Jordan sends down a wide, which is, to my recollection and without looking it up (which I could easily do) the first extra of the innings. After that Gunathilaka smashes a half-volley on the up and through mid-off for four runs more brutal than a Nelson Muntz wedgie. A single then brings up the 50 partnership from 51 balls. Mendis pulls out to midwicket but the ball dies before reaching the fielder and that’s just a single too. Another wide prompts me to check my earlier statement and it turns out there was a leg-bye earlier on.

“Cricket or tennis?” asks John Starbuck echoing an earlier question. “The way the question is posed invites the answer provided by Harry Hill ‘There’s only one way to find out: fight!!!’ In which case the tennis players may well be more nimble, but the cricketers carry the heavier weaponry, be it bat/racket or ball. Cricketers have more armour too.”

12th over: Sri Lanka 53-1 (Mendis 18, Gunathilaka 28) target 325 Here is Plunkett. Old Plunkers. The Plunkmaster. Liam. He gets a couple of excellent yorkers in and can be mightily miffed to be punished to the tune of five runs from them: Mendis squeezes his to midwicket and Gunathilaka digs his out and down to third man for four.

11th over: Sri Lanka 47-1 (Mendis 17, Gunathilaka 23) target 325 Jordan replaces Woakes, perhaps a wee bit of a surprise to see him on first change instead of Plunkett. Ah hold on, Plunkett is off the field for some reason, with Moeen fielding down at fine-leg. Anywho, six from the over, two of ‘em in ones and a pair of twos. Don’t ever accuse me of writing filler.

10th over: Sri Lanka 41-1 (Mendis 12, Gunathilaka 22) target 325 These two look more settled now: Mendis climbs into Willey’s first ball and lifts it cleanly over mid-on for four runs. He’s then not far off being run out when he pushes for a single and is a touch lackadaisical in getting to the other end: had the throw hit he was gone. That’s the end of a well-bowled powerplay.

“Good afternoon Dan,” writes Simon McMahon, who has a question. “I’m thoroughly enjoying the award winning Guardian sports website today. But
are you the only OBOer who can spell the Sri Lankan batsmen’s names
which is better, cricket or tennis? And don’t say rugby.” I’ll let you know after the Djokovic v Querrey match has finished. It’s back on serve in the fourth.

9th over: Sri Lanka 35-1 (Mendis 7, Gunathilaka 21) target 325 Shot from Gunathilaka, taking full advantage of a soupçon of room from Woakes outside off and cutting it elegantly past Roy for four. After an exchange of singles he’s at it again, this time not keeping it down and sending it only eight inches or so away from the diving Roy’s outstretched right hand. It would have been a blinder; alas it’s four runs instead.

8th over: Sri Lanka 25-1 (Mendis 6, Gunathilaka 12) target 325 On Sky, Athers makes fun of Nick Knight’s tie. I look forward to seeing this, but am then thoroughly disappointed when it turns out I have one very similar. I didn’t think it was too bad, but then I never wear the the things outside of weddings, and I don’t get invited to many of those. Back with the cricket, a mere single comes from Willey’s over, the final ball seaming past Mendis.

7th over: Sri Lanka 24-1 (Mendis 6, Gunathilaka 11) target 325 A rank wide ball from Woakes goes unpunished when Mendis just overbalances a touch in reaching for it. It should have gone for four, although the next ball does just that when Woakes straightens, overpitches and gets driven crisply through extra-cover by Mendis. Those are the only runs of the over though and the required rate is already up to almost dead-on seven.

6th over: Sri Lanka 20-1 (Mendis 2, Gunathilaka 11) target 325 Another lofted flick into the leg-side from Gunathilaka but it’s another mistimed shot and just another two. Three balls later though he plays a similar shot, further towards mid-on this time, times it better, keeps it down and sends it trundling on its way to the rope for the first boundary of the innings. An awkward pull and a guide down to third man from the No2 and the No3 respectively each bring singles.

5th over: Sri Lanka 12-1 (Mendis 1, Gunathilaka 4) target 325 The new batsman is Kushal Mendis, whose form across all formats on this tour has been just about the brightest point for Sri Lanka. He has five half-centuries including the one against Leicestershire in the tour match and it would be really, really handy for Sri Lanka if he could kick on from one of those today. He’s off the mark with an edge down to third man, before Gunathilaka is perturbed by the umpire’s decision not to award a wide for a big high bouncer. He guides away a single behind point but that’s another lovely tight over from England.

4th over: Sri Lanka 9-1 (Mendis 0, Gunathilaka 3) target 325 For the first time today Willey strays on to the pads and Gunathilaka chips him into the outfield. There should be two as Vince slips in the outfield, but the batsmen settle for one lest they interrupt the serenity of this start. Or it was bad running. Perera then gets a thin edge into his pad and back on to the bat, but Buttler can’t get forward in time to catch the looping ball. No matter as Perera goes final ball, for a frustrated six from 15.

Review! Perera lbw b Willey 6

3rd over: Sri Lanka 8-0 (Perera 6, Gunathilaka 2) target 325 Now Gunathilaka gets off the mark, in low-key fashion with a mistimed hook that he bottom edges to backward-square for one. Perera edges a single of his own then his partner gets another one with a push down the ground and a hasty dash. Perera is a lucky man off the last ball, top-edging a very loose pull and sending it just beyond the retreating Rashid for two. All of Sri Lanka’s runs have come off badly timed shots, while the plenty that have been well timed have gone to fielders.

2nd over: Sri Lanka 3-0 (Perera 3, Gunathilaka 0) target 325 Yes Willey is getting some early shape away from the left-handed Perera, who just defends the first four balls into the off-side. With that approach not yielding anything by way of runs, he swishes airily through midwicket for a couple.

1st over: Sri Lanka 1-0 (Perera 1, Gunathilaka 0) target 325 Changing things up again, maverick new England open the bowling with Chris Woakes instead of David Willey. He asks about lbw very first ball, but that one’s slipping down the leg-side I’d wager. There is a stiffish Cardiff breeze going across the wicket and that’s offering the bowler some movement, though that might be more useful for Willey. Perera gets a single to mid-off, before Gunathilaka plays a series of glorious-looking shots straight to fielders inside the ring.

Mike Atherton is speaking about Mohammad Amir, following the interview that was aired during the interval and it’s a very interesting listen. Amir, for what it’s worth, still believes he can be the best bowler in the world and it’s difficult not to feel sympathy for the kid: he says he now also wants to be seen as a better human being.

As for Athers, he’s launched an eloquent defence of Amir. He points out that the News of the World sting essentially convoluted a crime that wouldn’t otherwise have happened and, with the agent under pressure after not delivering in the previous match, went after the youngest, most impressionable player.

Yes, Adam Collins is gone. I, Dan Lucas, am your glorious leader now, here to guide you through the final innings of this ODI series. The question now is whether the pressure of the chase will invigorate Sri Lanka or whether they will wilt under the pressure. To secure a first win on the tour they’ll have to make their highest score of the ODI series. They make 305 in 42 overs at the Oval so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility. And after the way Sri Lanka’s spinners kept a lid on things, will England regret not picking Moeen Ali? Stay tuned to find out!

England finish on 324-7

England held their nerve when the bowling was good, and cashed in what it wasn’t, tallying an target that will take some chasing for the visitors to register their first, belated win on tour.

Root (93) accumulated well, Buttler (70) showed his tricks late and Vince (51) reminded all of his charms, especially when driving. For Sri Lanka, Danushka Gunathilaka’s ten overs of off-spin netted 3/48, proving a a constant challenge for the England players. Seekkuge Prasanna’s leggies were equally as important in the context of the visitors’ fightback after the hosts got off to a flyer.

Right. Time to grab a sandwich and a cup of tea. Dan Lucas is doing exactly that, he’ll be over in a tic. Thanks, as always, for your company. This is who he saw last night at Hyde Park. Like a Jos Buttler shovel over cover: cop this.

50th over: England 324-7 Plunkett gets the chance to face off again with the man who he plonked over the rope to tie the first ripper a week and a half ago. And it’s the Englishman who wins this next, brief skirmish as well, twice pulling him hard through midwicket for final-over boundaries. He’s run out last ball via a direct hit from the bowler, but his cameo was a successful one.

WICKET! Root b Pradeep 93 (106)

Root makes it to the final over and the 90s, but no further, bowled by Pradeep who finally gets his name in the book. Not the most compelling innings Root will play, but combined for useful partnerships down the list putting England in a very strong position.

49th over: England 314-5 (Root 93, Woakes 16) Even the otherwise pretty good Lakmal has completely lose his way in his final over. Woakes cashes in. A full toss to start the over which still could have been one if not for Bandara misfielding on the rope. Oh dear. Then to the penultimate delivery the all-rounder gave himself the room to swing, and connect he did shovelling a ball that followed him over the fence at backward square leg. Resourceful.

48th over: England 302-5 (Root 92, Woakes 5) After slipping through Butter’s gate Bandara tried to repeat the dose but Root is already down low in a reverse sweep stance and is able to lift the overpitched ball over where slip would conventionally stand. 11 from it.

WICKET! Buttler b Bandara 70 (45)

A very handy first ODI wicket for the man on debut, “he may have just saved his side chasing an extra 30” the analysis of Botham. Bandara’s yorker from around the wicket slipped by Buttler. Excellent death bowling.

Buttler is bowled by a yorker from Bandara. Photograph: Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images